Imagine If The Main Character In "Inside Out 2" Were...A Boy

 I haven't seen Pixar Film's latest offering, Inside Out 2. I don't know when I will, or if I will. We see very few film in the theater. The closest movie theater is over twenty miles away from us, but we didn't go see films in theaters even when we lived just up the road from a multiplex.

I saw the first Inside Out when it came out years ago. It was okay, not one of my favorites. For me, Pixar Films seemed to begin a downward spiral around the time this particular film came out. It coincided with our children no longer being the targeted age (even thought they're written for adults, too...). I will give Pixar some props--the first installment was not your usual movie. The plot was original and imaginative and they took some chances. 

So, they made a sequel.

Since it recently hit theaters, I've seen the ads on TV and on the internet. Now, instead of Riley being eleven-years old, she's now thirteen, a teenager (even though there's nine years in real time between the releases of both films...). A thought came to me as I watched yet another ad. 

It's a good thing they didn't make Riley a boy in the first one.

I think Inside Out 2 would be a completely different film if Riley were a him and not a her. 

I have no experience being a thirteen-year old girl so I'm taking the film's writers's word for it that these are the thoughts of a thirteen-year old girl. Even though it was decades ago, I remember what it was like being a thirteen-year old boy and the film would need a few more "characters" inside a boy's mind fighting it out with all the others. I won't go into detail about what characters they would be, but I'm sure you can use your imagination. No, it would be a different film. We'll leave it at that.

But, would it be an important film? Is something like understanding the trials and hardships of a young boy as he learns about himself and the world around him important? Yes, it's an important thing to pursue. Bringing greater understanding to humanity in all its ages and seasons is always important.

Even though I might not see Inside Out 2, if it was about a thirteen-year old boy, I'd be at least intrigued.

Re-Discovering "Cars"...A Classic!

Sun setting on my weekend. I came into the living room to write. My son's watching Pixar's Cars, the first one, and in my opinion, the best one.

I'd forgotten what an amazing film it is.

When I first heard the next Pixar film was about talking cars, I was skeptical. They'd hit home runs with Toy Story 1 & 2, Bugs Life, Monster's Inc., Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. I wasn't sure this new film could measure up to what had come before. Needless to say, they hadn't made anything like Cars before. Maybe that's part of the reason why it's so good.

Growing up, we took our share of car trips, mostly to Idaho and back, but occasionally, we'd travel in the desert. The panoramic views of the wide expanse of desert terrain reminded me of my my childhood. I heard one of the creators of the film was inspired by childhood car trips to California. It definitely shows.

As I watched, I realized some of the amazing talent in film that are no longer with us. Paul Newman, George Carlin, and Tom Maglizzi. There may be others that I'm not aware of, and as time goes on, we'll lose even more.

I was born in the 1960s, a time when most of the US interstate system was in place, but not all. Many of those road trips, we had to leave the freeway and drive through small towns. Watching the history of our country through an animated film about talking cars is a fascinating way to drive the point home (sorry...). It makes me want to get in the car and drive across the country, but not on the interstate. There's a world out there few see. Throw in James Taylor's Our Town, and it's enough to break your heart.

Pixar changed the way we not only watch animated films, but how they're made. They also create stories that touch us inside. Cars did that for me, and apparently, still does it thirteen years later.

Daniellle Feinberg's Ted Talk...Sometimes It's What You Don't See

I'm a fan of Ted Talks, not all of them, of course, but most. And even though I don't always agree with what's being said, I applaud the format. We need more communication, not less in the world today. Ted Talks help with that.

But earlier this week, I watched a talk given by Danielle Feinberg. I've never heard of Danielle Feinberg before, which is the case with most of the speakers. This alone will not make me listen to, or reject a talk. When I read the title of the talk, The Magic Ingredient that Brings Pixar Movies to Life, oh, I HAD to watch that one.

Danielle's talk included all of what you'd expect from a Ted Talk about Pixar. She talked about the challenges and the rewards. She talked about personal moments for her that made all the hard work worth it.

But there was something else that I noticed, something I rarely notice when I watch these things. I noticed how much I was smiling as I watched her talk. And the reason I noticed this is because occasionally there would be shots of the audience watching the same talk that I was watching.

And what were those audience members doing while they listened? They were smiling. I realized they were smiling for the same reason I was--because of the way those movies have made us feel. This made me realize the power Danielle and Pixar has in our lives. We've allowed them to become part of us, the best part. Those stories are more than just films that sit in DVD cases on our shelves at home. They're like good friends that we turn to because of the way they make us feel. To be able to do that for others...what a gift that would be.

You can watch Danielle's Ted Talk: HERE. If you've seen it maybe you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't seen it, it's twelve minutes long and I can almost guarantee, if you watch it, you'll be smiling, too.